In the heated Wisconsin Supreme Court race, liberal judge Susan Crawford swept Brad Schimel, a Trump-backed conservative judge. Both parties spent a combined $100 million on the race, making it the most expensive state supreme court race in U.S. history. The race not only energized Wisconsin Democrats to show out in the polls but uncovered a sinister plot: Elon Musk’s attempts to buy seats in the highest positions of power.
On March 30, right before the Wisconsin election, Musk flew to the swing state for a rally, bearing a $1 million check and offering a $100 bribe to voters who signed his petition in opposition of “activist judges” — a roadblock in President Donald Trump’s policy goals.
Musk’s lawyers denied any bribery allegations and argued that Musk was spurring grassroots movements to support Trump.
Yet, in that same rally, Musk did not shy away from priming Wisconsin voters to support Schimel.
“What’s happening on Tuesday is a vote for which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives. That is why it is so significant,” Musk remarked in the rally.
Musk and his group of super PACs spent over $54 million in the race, seeking to garner control over the state supreme court because, in his view, the court will help Republicans access more congressional seats, believing that whoever controls Congress controls the rest of “Western Society,” making the Wisconsin Supreme Court election a race that will shape American democracy.
Musk was not merely donating money to encourage voters to go to the polls, which is illegal under Wisconsin’s law; he was financially incentivizing voters to elect a Trump loyalist and shift the Wisconsin Supreme Court to a conservative majority.
The vitality of the election lies in the cases the Wisconsin Supreme Court will hear: abortion access, labor rights and voting district modifications, which are currently drawn to Republican advantage and will impact the 2026 midterms.
The election would have paved the way for more Trump loyalists to fill the halls of Congress and legislate the political desires of Trump and Musk while completely disregarding their constituents. Wisconsin should act as an irrevocable warning for Americans about Musk’s vision for the U.S: a government subservient and only receptive to the needs, wants and influence of the wealthy.
By bribing voters, Musk has demonstrated his readiness to sabotage the integrity of an election to edify his power. However, Wisconsin voters showed that their electoral system cannot be bought by ensuring the victory of Crawford.
Since the 2024 election, Musk has continuously used his wealth to buy votes. The only difference is that, now, his wealth is failing because Wisconsin residents understand that the ultra-wealthy subverting a free and fair election is antithetical to a liberal democracy. Elections are no playground for the rich. They are the fabric that weaves democracies together, making it ever more vital to follow in Wisconsin’s steps and go to the polls.
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